News

Hello Eagle River Rotarians!

Our new Club meeting location is now the Riverstone Brewing Co.

Club meetings are held at Noon on the first and third Thursday of each month, excluding holidays.

Board meetings are held at 11:00 am on the first Thursday of each month.

Guests and potential members are welcome!  Please email us if you are planning to attend as a guest or potential member.

For 98 years, the Rotary Club of Eagle River has remained committed to one powerful principle: Service Above Self.

Founded on May 23, 1928, with sponsorship from the Rotary Club of Crandon, the club has spent nearly a century serving Eagle River and the surrounding Northwoods through volunteerism, philanthropy, and community leadership.

Throughout our history, our members have helped shape the community we proudly call home. We helped support the early development of the World Championship Snowmobile Derby, were among the early contributors to what became Eagle River Memorial Hospital, helped restore the Eagle River Railroad Depot and the Silver Lake Beach House, and most recently supported the development of Rotary Square in downtown Eagle River.

Today, that same spirit of service continues through hands-on volunteerism, youth initiatives, charitable giving, and member led projects that directly strengthen the Northwoods community.

One of the club’s signature annual events, its popular Wine & Cheese fundraiser, which began in 1994, continues to generate support for charitable giving throughout our region.  Proceeds from the event have helped support organizations and initiatives including:

• Northwoods Children’s Museum
• Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Vilas County
• Wounded Warriors In Action Foundation
• Sno-Eagles Snowmobile Club
• Kalmar Community Center
• Eagle River Recreation Association, home of The Dome

In addition to its fundraising efforts, the Rotary Club of Eagle River proudly coordinates Warm The Children, a long-standing community program that helps local children and families in need receive warm winter clothing during the holiday season. Previously coordinated by the Vilas County News-Review, the program now continues under the leadership of the club and its dedicated volunteers.

In 2025 alone, the program received $88,350.39 in community donations. With the help of 45 volunteer shoppers, 213 families were served, and 545 children received new winter clothing from Glik’s and Northland Clothing Company.

Club members also generously support the annual Berganthal Challenge, a fundraiser held in honor of Bob Berganthal. The effort benefits three area food pantries, helping neighbors in Eagle River, Land O’ Lakes and Three Lakes during a time of significant need.

“As we celebrate 98 years of service, we are incredibly proud of the generations of members who have helped build this club’s legacy,” said Kevin McGuire, president of the Rotary Club of Eagle River. “Rotary has always been about neighbors helping neighbors, and that mission remains as important today as it was in 1928.”

As the club looks ahead to its centennial celebration, members remain committed to serving others, strengthening community partnerships, and creating lasting impact for future generations.

We look forward to celebrating our 100th anniversary in 2028.

To mark this special milestone, the Rotary Club of Eagle River will host a celebratory anniversary luncheon on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at noon at Riverstone Brewing Company (219 North Railroad Street, Eagle River).  Community members interested in learning more about the club are warmly invited to join us for a complimentary lunch. To RSVP, please email eagleriverrotaryclub@gmail.com. Guests who RSVP will receive available menu options.

Information about the club is also available on our website at EagleRiverRotary.com.

About the Rotary Club of Eagle River

Founded in 1928, the Rotary Club of Eagle River is part of Rotary International, a worldwide network of service minded leaders dedicated to creating lasting change in communities at home and around the world. Guided by Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self, the club supports local projects, youth initiatives, charitable programs, and community partnerships throughout the Northwoods.

Hello Fellow Rotarians!

Our next Board and Club meetings will be held on Thursday, May 7th at the Riverstone Brewing Co. (219 North Railroad Street, Eagle River, WI 54521).

The Board will meet at 11:00 am, and the Club meeting will be at Noon.

The menu will be emailed shortly so that you can pre-order your lunch.

Hello Fellow Rotarians,

Robert “Bob” Bergenthal was a devoted and long-running member of the Eagle River Rotary Club. About 20 years ago, Bob purchased a new dock from fellow Rotarian John Mors of Boat Sport. John offered to sell Bob’s old dock, and when it sold, they decided to donate the proceeds to local food pantries as the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons approached.

To expand the impact, Bob invited his fellow Rotarians to join him in supporting the effort. Participation was voluntary, and many Club members contributed between $25 and $100. Some wrote checks right away, while others added a pledge to their quarterly dues.

The funds were distributed to three area food pantries, helping neighbors in Eagle River, Land O’ Lakes, and Three Lakes during a time of significant need. That single act of generosity grew into a treasured Club tradition that became known as the Bergenthal Challenge.

Bob passed away in October 2014, yet his spirit of service and generosity continues to guide us. Each year, our Club honors his legacy by rallying together once more to support local families and strengthen our community.

If you wish to make a donation for the Bergenthal Challenge, please let me know. It has been suggested I distribute the checks to the local food pantries before Thanksgiving, so I ask that you make your pledge by November 10th so that I can get the checks out.

Thank you for your continued commitment to our Club and our community.

Warm Regards,

Kim Swisher, Treasurer
Eagle River Rotary Club & Foundation

Tickets are now on sale for our Annual Wine & Cheese Event!

Monday, August 11, 2025

6:00 to 9:00 pm

Chef Rene’s at the Eagle River Inn
5260 Hwy 70, Eagle River, WI 54521

Our Club’s annual Wine & Cheese event raises funds that allow us to support area community projects.

Learn more and buy your tickets online here.

Board and Club Meetings are held at Chef Rene’s unless otherwise noted.

May 2025

5/1 – Board Meeting at 11:15 am.  Club Meeting at Noon.

5/15 – Club Meeting at Noon.  Foundation Board Meeting at 4:30 pm at Kevin McGuire’s office (DeLeers Construction – 221 South First Street).

June 2025

6/5 – Board Meeting at 11:15 am.  Club Meeting at Noon.

6/19 – Club Meeting at Noon.

July 2025

7/3 – No Meetings

7/10 – Board Meeting at 11:15 am.  Club Meeting at Noon.

7/17 – Club Meeting at Noon.

August 2025

8/1 and 8/2 – Antique Show at Northland Pines High School.

8/7 – Board Meeting at 11:15 am.  Club Meeting at Noon.

8/11 – Wine & Cheese Event at Chef Rene’s.

Happy New Year!

Our regularly scheduled meeting for Thursday, January 2, 2025 has been cancelled.

We will meet on Thursday, January 16th, at Noon at Chef Rene’s.

We are holding a special social gathering on Thursday, January 30th at 5:00 pm at the Riverstone Brewery Company.

We know you have a busy schedule, and that’s why our Club leadership has created a Social Meeting that will be held on the 5th Thursday of the month.

Since this won’t happen very often, we hope you will join us for our first Social on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at 5:00 pm at the Riverstone Brewing Company (219 North Railroad Street, Eagle River).

New and interested Members welcome!